Ransom At Christmas. Barb Han

for myself but I have no idea what I’m doing in this getup,” she admitted. If she was lying she was damn good at it.

      “You’re Will Kent,” she added.

      “That’s right.”

      “We were in grade school together,” she said.

      “Right again.” His phone buzzed, indicating a text message. He cupped the screen to block light so as not to make it act as a beacon, and checked the message.

      “The sheriff is outside.”

      He texted back, letting his cousin know the two of them were in position and alone as far as he knew. Zach would take extra precaution so as not to bring the shooter to their doorstep. The last thing anyone wanted was a shootout. A text informing him that Domino had been found spooked but unharmed had come forty-five minutes ago and was a welcome relief. Thoughts of his horse being butchered like the heifer had anger brewing inside him.

      He glanced up. His eyes had long ago adjusted to the dark. He could see Kelly’s outline and she was making a move to stand.

      “Whoa. Hold on there.” In the next second he was by her side, steadying her and stopping her from taking a fall.

      Physical contact sent more unexpected and unwelcomed currents of electricity thrumming through his veins. It hadn’t been that long since he’d been with a woman. An annoying voice in the back of his mind reminded him that it had been too long since he’d been with one who caused that kind of reaction from him. The thought was about as productive as drinking a shot of whiskey after eating a ghost pepper.

      “I can’t stay here,” she said and her voice was shaky.

      “Why not?” He remembered that she’d warned him against bringing in the law. “Are you involved in something illegal?”

      “No.” She took a step and her knee gave.

      Will pulled her in tighter, ignoring the shot of electricity.

      “Thank you,” she said and her voice was laced with emotion. He didn’t need to see clearly to know that she was crying and it caused his heart to squeeze. Whatever was going on, she was in a fix and he found himself wanting to help. Then again, his blood was pumping for the first time since returning to the ranch. He couldn’t ignore the possibility that being shot at a little while ago was the first time he’d felt alive since leaving the military. Readjusting to the real world, when he’d been damn good at being a soldier, was proving harder than he expected. Thinking about it caused the restless feeling to return.

      Those were dangerous thoughts so he shoved them down deep.

      “Hang in there. Help is almost here,” he reassured Kelly as she leaned more of her weight against him. The soft curve of her hip came up to the outside of his upper thigh and lit a thousand fires at the point of contact.

      His hands felt a little too right on her as he shouldered more of her weight. He told himself that he needed to call Renee back. She’d been after him for a date since her friend’s New Year’s Eve shindig. Will had gone to the party out of boredom and found himself even more restless among the dancing and boozing. He was definitely off-kilter. The old Will would’ve enjoyed a night with a pretty woman. But that was before Lacey had left him at the altar and shredded his heart. He’d tried to convince himself that he wasn’t over her, but that wasn’t true, either. Being burned still stung, but part of him had known he and Lacey had been making a mistake.

      Being on the ranch was supposed to provide the answers he searched for. So far, he’d just counted cattle and shoveled manure. Busy work kept his mind from spinning out.

      Will moved to the door, maintaining a slow pace so that Kelly could keep up. He situated her so that she could lean against the wall as he texted Zach. The rescue team was in position. He and Kelly were stationed and ready to go.

      The doorknob jiggled.

      Even knowing who was on the other side didn’t stop the familiar—and comforting?—adrenaline rush from thrumming through him, awakening all that had been dead. There had been one too many times that he felt like one of his parents, or both, would come walking through the kitchen door of the main house since his return. He needed to get it through his thick skull that both were gone.

      Within a couple of minutes Will and Kelly were being guided out of the woods and ushered toward the main house.

      Kelly had that frightened-deer expression, her violet eyes wild.

      He tightened his grip around her waist in a move of silent reassurance as he led her into the house, then to the living room and onto the sofa, where he gently placed her.

      Dr. Carter, a longtime family friend, went to work. The man was in his early sixties and had the face of a weathered grandfather. He had a medium build and kept himself in shape with a competitive cycling club. He was average height, had medium brown hair and a prominent nose. In his office there were enough degrees and accolades hanging on the wall to litter a small town. The doc was the best.

      “Thanks for coming on short notice,” Will said with a handshake.

      The doc smiled, then sanitized his hands and put on a pair of gloves. He took a knee beside Kelly. “I can see that you’re in pain. On a scale of one to ten, how much does it hurt?”

      “A solid seven,” she said in between breaths. Those huge violet eyes of hers outlined her panic.

      Will rounded the coffee table and perched on the edge, opposite the doctor. Kelly reached for Will’s hand and issued a sharp breath with the move.

      “I’ll be able to give you something to help with that pain when I’m finished with the exam,” the doc assured her.

      “Okay.” Kelly’s shoulders tensed as he dabbed what Will could only guess was some type of cleaning agent on her wound. Her chin came up and he admired her strength. His heart pitched and he reminded himself not to notice these things about her. Soon enough, she’d be whisked away to the hospital and would be out of his life.

      EMTs were pulling up outside as Zach came through the front door. Deputies Lorenzano and Peabody were outside standing guard, after having rushed Kelly and Will to the main house.

      Will turned and caught a look from his cousin.

      “Do you remember Kelly Morgan from elementary school?” Will asked.

      Zach shook his head.

      Will motioned toward her. Zach had been two grades behind them, so it wasn’t a shock that he didn’t remember her.

      “We were classmates. Haven’t seen her since her family moved away from Jacobstown in fifth grade,” he said by way of explanation.

      “I just got a call about an abandoned vehicle,” Zach warned. “The owner is missing.”

      “We can all see that I’m right here,” Kelly said as she winced.

      For the second time, Zach shook his head. “I’m sorry, but the name the car is registered to is Christina Foxwood.”

      Kelly took in a sharp breath. “She’s my cousin.”

      “When did you last see her?” Zach asked.

      Kelly seemed to search her memory. “I can’t remember.”

      “Is it safe to say that it’s been a long time?” Zach had a notepad out, and was jotting down a few notes.

      “No. We live in the same building.” She massaged her temples as though that might stimulate her thoughts. “I know I’ve seen her, I just don’t remember where or when. I also know that I was forced to drink something and it’s playing havoc with my memory. There was a man. I mean, he’s so hazy but I feel like there was a guy in a tux trying to hurt me. I struggled and got away from him but things are hazy. I feel dizzy and like I might vomit.”

      “But you remembered me,” Will stated.

      She